Vice Presidential Debate Recap

Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz discussed important policies in their recent vice presidential debate. (Courtesy/Le Monde)

The vice presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance was held on Oct. 1 in New York City. 

The two discussed a wide range of issues from foreign policy to reproduction rights.. In case you missed it, here is the debate recap. 

Foreign Policy

The first issue raised by both candidates was foreign policy. Rising tensions in the Middle East particularly between Israel and Iran have raised concerns of a regional war. 

Walz emphasized the importance of steady leadership and pointed to the fact that Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel was thwarted because of American and Israeli partnerships. Walz attacked former President Donald Trump’s leadership ability especially when it comes to matters of foreign policy. 

“His Chief of Staff, John Kelly, said that he was the most flawed human being he’d ever met,” Walz said during the debate.

In addition to using his former chief of staff’s words against him, Walz also criticized Trump’s record of pulling programs that halted Iran’s nuclear deal and tweeting when Iran shot down American aircraft. 

Meanwhile, Vance pointed out that Trump’s leadership made the world safer and that his term was the only one in recent history where major conflict did not break out. 

”Donald Trump recognized that for people to fear the United States, you needed peace through strength,” said Vance.

Vance also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to allow Iran access to $100 billion that has been seized by the U.S. government. However, this is factually incorrect. The money was to be unfrozen if Iran followed steps to reduce its nuclear capability in a deal negotiated by the Obama administration. 

 Because Trump pulled out of the deal and it fell apart, the money was never released.

Hurricane Helene and Climate Change

The debate turned to the recent category four storm, Hurricane Helene and climate change. Both candidates were asked how they would try to lessen the effects of climate change so that future storms are not as destructive.

Vance claimed that both he and Trump want a clean and safe environment for the country. They plan on accomplishing this by keeping factories in the U.S. so that they aren’t moved to other countries with lax emissions requirements. 

“So if we actually care about getting cleaner air and cleaner water, the best thing to do is to double down and invest in American workers and the American people, “ said Vance 

Walz touted President Joe Biden’s and Harris’ investments in the Inflation Reduction Act that has created manufacturing jobs, many of which are in clean energy industries. He explained that a future Harris administration would continue on that path. 

“We are seeing us becoming an energy superpower for the future, not just the current,” said Walz. 

Immigration

The candidates were then asked about their plans for immigration. Vance in particular was asked about his running mate’s plan to deport the majority of immigrants from the country. 

Vance began by blaming Vice President Kamala Harris for the present immigration crisis by reversing Trump era policies regarding the border.  Vance claimed that the current policy had led to record numbers of illegal crossings and fentanyl entering the country. As for his plan for deporting 20 million immigrants, Vance stated that it would be best to start with criminals. 

“About a million of those people have committed some form of crime in addition to crossing the border illegally. I think you start with deportations on those folks,” said Vance.

His claim is false. According to the Customs and Border Protection Agency, only about 15,300 undocumented immigrants have committed crimes in 2023. The overwhelming majority of them were for illegally crossing the border. 

He also blamed Harris for hundreds of thousands of children being separated from their families at the border, claiming that Harris was the “border czar.”.  The position of border czar does not exist in the American government. Issues involving immigration fall under the purview of the Homeland Security Department. 

Vance’s statement about missing children is also misleading as the number comes from an Immigrant and Customs Enforcement report detailing that court notices had not been issued to nearly 300,000 unaccompanied minors. This does not mean the children are missing or lost, just that they do not currently have a place in court proceedings. 

Vance complained that the moderators weren’t supposed to fact-check him and tried to explain more of his issues with Harris’s immigration stance before both his and Walz’s microphones were cut. 

Walz was asked about recent polling showing that a majority of Americans support mass deportations, in alignment with Vance’s platform of deportation of immigrants.

Walz mentioned a bipartisan bill—from earlier this year—on the table in Congress that could have fixed numerous immigration issues by providing more border patrol agents and faster court hearings. It came close to passing. Walz claimed that Trump had republican members of Congress refuse to vote for the bill so he could campaign on the issue. 

“And when it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize other human beings. It should not take seven years for an asylum claim to be done. This bill gets it done in 90 days,” said Walz.

The Economy

Voters say one of the most important issues in the upcoming election is the economy. Walz was asked about his campaign’s economic plan that would add $1.2 trillion to the national deficit, according to the Wharton School of Business. 

Walz explained that the plan would ensure three million new houses are built and negotiate prescription prices. Walz mentioned that it included a child tax credit that could be beneficial to the country. 

“And then making sure tax cuts go to the middle class, $6,000 child tax credit. We have one in Minnesota, that reduces childhood poverty by a third,” said Walz.

He also contrasted this plan with Trump’s policy for tax cuts for the rich and his administration’s $8 trillion increase to the federal deficit. 

Vance’s economic plan was also assessed by the Wharton School which concluded it would lead to a national deficit increase of $5.8 trillion. 

 “A lot of those same economists attack Donald Trump’s plans, and they have PhDs, but they don’t have common sense and they don’t have wisdom,” said Vance.

He claimed that previous Trump administration tax cuts increased the country’s take-home pay and only 1.5% inflation. This is misleading. The majority of the savings from the tax cut went to the top 10% of American earners. 

Reproductive Rights

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, abortion rights have also become a major election issue. Walz was asked about a law he signed that made Minnesota one of the states with the least reproductive restrictions. 

Walz launched into multiple stories of women being unable to receive reproductive care and becoming seriously ill and forced to carry children of rapists. 

“In Minnesota, we are ranked first in health care for a reason. We trust women. We trust doctors,” said Walz.

Walz denigrated Project 2025 claiming that it would lead to a pregnancy registry and limit access to birth control and infertility treatments. His claim is slightly misleading. While Project 2025 does not require a registry of pregnancies it does request that each state report how many abortions take place there along with the reason it was performed. 

Vance stated that he wanted the Republican party to become pro-family and support fertility treatments. He also said because the country is full of diverse people with diverse views the best policy was to leave abortion restriction decisions.

“And the proper way to handle this, as messy as democracy sometimes is, is to let voters make these decisions, let the individual states make their abortion policy,” said Vance. 

Vance was also asked about his past support of a national restriction on abortions that occur after 15 weeks of pregnancy. He disputed that he ever supported such a policy and that the Republican party must work to gain back voters’ trust on the issue. 

Gun Violence

Gun violence was a major talking point in the debate. In April the parents of a school shooter were convicted and sentenced to a decade in prison. Vance was asked whether he believed holding parents accountable for their children’s actions was the right way to reduce school shootings.

Vance stated that whether parents should be convicted should be left up to the discretion of local law enforcement. He then went on to say that most gun violence is committed with illegal firearms and that it was partly Harris’ fault. 

“We know that thanks to Kamala Harris’s open border, we’ve seen a massive influx in the number of illegal guns run by the Mexican drug cartel,” said Vance.

 to reports by both the Mexican and American governments, the issue is actually in the opposite direction. According to Mexico anywhere from 70 to 90% of guns there are from the U.S. The United States Bureau of  Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives puts the number at 68%.

Vance also said a solution to gun violence in schools could be making the doors and windows stronger. 

Walz started by explaining that his son witnessed a school shooting. 

“Look, I got a, I got a 17-year-old, and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball. Those things don’t leave you,” said Walz

He then went on to compare Finland’s high gun ownership rate and low gun violence rate to America’s level of violence to show that people can keep their guns but still reduce violence.

When Walz was questioned about his previous refusal to support an assault weapons ban. He explained that after speaking with the parents of victims of school shootings he now supports an assault weapons ban. 

“Yeah. I sat in that office with those Sandy Hook parents,” said Walz. “ I’m of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice. That’s not where we live today.”

Housing Crisis

The present shortage of affordable homes has made purchasing a home much more difficult for everyday Americans. Walz was asked about his platform’s plan to build 3 million homes and to offer $25,000 in down payment assistance. 

Walz explained that the same issue had been abated in his home state of Minnesota through the same policies that he was advocating. He remarked on his own personal experience with the GI bill’s down payment assistance and how helpful it was for him and how in the long term, policies like this would benefit the country. 

“People with stable housing have their kids able to get to school. All of those things in the long run, end up saving our money, said Walz.

Vance was then questioned on his plan to seize federal lands to build homes and to reduce immigration so there was less competition for homes. 

Vance said immigration is a major factor in housing scarcity and that it was Harris’s fault that immigration and housing costs rose at the same time. 

“Twenty-five million illegal aliens competing with Americans for scarce homes is one of the most significant drivers of home prices in the country. It’s why we have massive increases in home prices that have happened right alongside massive increases in illegal alien, alien populations under Kamala Harris’s leadership,” said Vance.

In fact, the housing shortage issue has been a problem since 2008 when the number of homes built per year saw a major drop. Fewer new homes were built from 2008 to 2018 than any time since the 1960s, in part because of the Great Recession that occurred in 2008.  Also, there are much fewer than 25 million undocumented immigrants, the Pew Research Center puts the number closer to 11 million. Additionally, Vance’s use of the term “illegal alien” is dehumanizing and paints immigrants in a negative light. 

Vance claimed that producing more energy would help lower housing costs, as lower gas prices would lead to lower costs of transporting housing materials. 

Healthcare Costs

A major campaign issue for both parties has been the rising costs of healthcare. Vance was asked how Trump’s new plan for healthcare would still ensure those with pre-existing conditions. 

Vance began by ensuring that Americans with pre-existing conditions would be covered. He then pointed to Trump’s record on health care which included lower prices and pricing transparency at hospitals. He pointed out that Trump could have dissolved the Affordable Care Act (ACA)  but instead decided to improve it. 

“Donald Trump could have destroyed the program. Instead, he worked in a bipartisan way to ensure that Americans had access to affordable care,” said Vance.

However, Trump’s administration on numerous occasions attempted to weaken the ACA by cutting its funding. Trump did attempt to have it repealed by Congress but this plan failed. 

Vance also claimed that he would let states figure out how to cover those who are chronically ill. 

Walz said that Vance’s plan would mean that those with pre-existing conditions would no longer be covered as it would be similar to how insurance worked prior to the ACA being passed. 

“If you’re sitting at home and you got asthma, too bad,” said Walz.

He also touted Harris’ record of raising the number of insured people in the country and negotiating prices of some prescription drugs down. 

Childcare

The debate then turned to childcare costs. Walz was asked how long employers should be required to pay their staff while they are home taking care of their children, also known as parental leave.  

Walz said that the exact time frame was negotiable and would be left up to Congress. He pointed to his own experience of having to go back to work soon after his child was born and said he doesn’t want that for other Americans. 

“I had to go back to work five days after my kids were born. This allows you to stay home a certain amount of time,” said Walz.

Walz also pointed out that similar legislation had passed in Minnesota and it didn’t impact businesses there negatively and helps children. 

“A Federal program of paid family medical leave and help with this will enhance our workforce, enhance our families, and make it easier to have the children that you want,” said Walz.

Vance stated that the current funding in place only supports a specific type of childcare. He wants families to be able to choose the childcare they want and still have access to government financial help. 

“Maybe you live in a rural area or an urban area, and you’d like to get together with families in your neighborhood to provide childcare in the way that makes the most sense. You don’t get access to any of these federal monies,”  said Vance. 

2020 Election

The debate ended with Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election. Vance was questioned about his previous statement saying he would not have certified the election if he was vice president at the time and if he would challenge the upcoming election’s results. 

Vance began by saying that he was focused on the future and that Trump said that protesters should protest peacefully. He then accused Vice President Harris of censoring people who spew misinformation. 

“And it’s Kamala Harris saying that rather than debate and persuade her fellow Americans, she’d like to censor people who engage in misinformation,” said Vance.

Vance went on to say that President Trump peacefully gave over power in the 2020 election.

“It’s really rich for Democratic leaders to say that Donald Trump is a unique threat to democracy when he peacefully gave over power on January the 20th,”  Vance said.

On Jan. 6, 2021, prior to the violent insurrection led by Trump supporters, at the Capitol building during Congress’s session to certify the recent presidential election results. One week laterTrump was impeached and has since been indicted in federal court based on the events. 

Walz then condemned Vance for not admitting that President Trump lost the election. He also pointed out that over 100 police officers were injured on Jan. 6, 2021. 

“As a football coach, sometimes you really want to win, but democracy is bigger than winning an election,”  said Walz.

Walz also accused Vance of spouting history when it came to Jan. 6, and that it has no place in the country.

Overall, the vice presidential debate was a much calmer debate on policy merits than Americans have seen recently. It allowed both sides to advocate their positions for positive change in America.